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Hepatitis C is a deadly but treatable disease; that’s why the Tennessee Department of Health is sharing a reminder about the importance of getting tested. May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, a perfect time to know your status and seek treatment if needed.

“There are three types of viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C; each are transmitted uniquely and cause separate illnesses,” said Carolyn Wester, MD, MPH, TDH Medical Director, HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis. “Vaccines are available to prevent against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B infection. There is currently no vaccine to prevent against Hepatitis C so it’s very important to find out if you’re at risk.”

Test can be conducted if you feel like you may have Hepatitis. Locally, you should contact the Rutherford County Health Department. The main office is in Murfreesboro at 100 West Burton Street. The phone number is (615) 898-7880.

Hepatitis C is a deadly but treatable disease; that’s why the
Tennessee Department of Health is sharing a reminder about the
importance of getting tested. May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, a
perfect time to know your status and seek treatment if needed.

“There
are three types of viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and
Hepatitis C; each are transmitted uniquely and cause separate
illnesses,” said Carolyn Wester, MD, MPH, TDH Medical Director,
HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis. “Vaccines are available to prevent against
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B infection. There is currently no vaccine to
prevent against Hepatitis C so it’s very important to find out if you’re
at risk.”

Test can be conducted if you feel like you may have Hepatitis.
Locally, you should contact the Rutherford County Health Department. The
main office is in Murfreesboro at 100 West Burton Street. The phone
number is (615) 898-7880.

More people in the U.S. die every year from hepatitis C than die from HIV.

The hepatitis C death rate is increasing annually.

The number of new hepatitis C infections is increasing at alarming rates, particularly among teens and young adults.

Despite the increase in new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, there has been a decrease in the prevalence of HCV in the U.S. because so many are dying.

Hepatitis C infection is preventable and curable. However, various obstacles stand in the way, two of which are:

The majority of those with HCV don’t know they have it; you can’t treat HCV without a diagnosis, and

Across the US, insurance companies and state Medicaid programs are denying treatment to many people. So, although HCV is curable and preventable we are miles away from preventing it and curing everyone.

This month’s article suggests ways you can make a difference and change the strong hold that HCV has on our communities. May is Hepatitis Awareness Month and May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day, both presenting opportunities for getting involved. We have the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to thank for initiating these events, but ultimately the success of these events depends on you. It is time for all of us to help.

If you think you don’t have the time for this, take note. The inspiration for this article is because Carleen McGuffey, a woman who had serious complications from HCV asked, “How can I, an average lay person with a heart to serve, put my time, money and effort behind stopping hep C? Where should I focus? How can we, the little people, make the most impact?” Carleen has six children, is on treatment and is incredibly active in the HCV community. If she can find time to make a difference, anyone can.

If everyone did a little something to raise hep C awareness, think of the effect it would have. Just like the Grand Canyon was made drop by drop, HCV can be eradicated person by person. No act is too small; just act.

So, Carleen, how can you serve? How can you make the most impact? Begin by searching your heart, and see where you are called. What stirs you up? What gives you joy? What makes you rage? What makes you want to make a difference? Is there a particular issue that really gets under your skin or makes you weep? It differs for each of us. Some of us focus on prevention; for some it is political advocacy or support groups. The list is endless. A huge part of my work focuses on helping patients through treatment, and helping people stay well with hep C. That is my passion, along with getting people tested.

If you are looking for ways to act, the CDC’s Know More Hepatitis campaign is a good place to start. It offers an extensive list of ways to raise awareness. Here are some things everyone can do and that don’t take a lot of time or money:

Ask every baby boomer you meet to get tested.

Tell your story and put a face on hep C. This is a powerful way to defy stigma.

Join an online or in-person support group. When we care for our wounded, we keep them in the fight for their lives.

A low effort way to send a message is the signature line of your email, such as: “One in 30 Americans born between 1945 and 1965 is living with hepatitis C. Get tested, get treated, get cured!” I use a graphic from the CDC’s website.

Sign up for action alerts so you know what is going on. Make the occasional call, send a fax or email to your elected officials—local, state or federal. Silence is apathy. Let them know you care about hepatitis C, and that you expect them to care too. An office visit or speaking at public hearings has an even bigger impact. You can sign up for action alerts from NVHR and Caring Ambassadors.

Post messages to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter reminding the world about hepatitis C.

Write a letter to the editor of your local paper about the need to reach the estimated 75 percent of people who have hepatitis C but who are not yet diagnosed.

Send money to your favorite viral hepatitis organization. No amount is too small. If everyone with HCV donated ten dollars, that would amount to nearly $30 million dollars.

Ask your local radio station to run a public service announcement (PSA). The CDC provides some scripts.

Send e-cards to friends, family, and colleagues who are baby boomers, encouraging them to get tested for hepatitis C.

Send media alerts to local TV, radio, cable or newspapers to publicize noteworthy events, such as testing days.

Ask your local governing body to issue a proclamation recognizing May as Hepatitis Awareness Month and/or May 19 as Hepatitis Testing Day. The CDC provides information on how to do this. After you get the proclamation, send a press release about it to your local paper.

Ask organizations that have community calendars to promote local testing or awareness events. Check the NVHR member list to see what groups are active in your state.

Lastly, my favorite is a game I call, “Six -degrees of hepatitis C.” It’s based on the concept of six degrees of separation, which is the theory that a chain of “a friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. Instead, when I meet someone for the first time, I try to work hepatitis C in to the conversation in six sentences or less. It is surprisingly easy, and fun to do.

If you are tempted to pass on the opportunity to raise awareness, keep in mind that in 2013, approximately 53 people died every day from hepatitis C. That is more than two an hour. With an increasing death rate, what are you waiting for? We have lives to save.

Lucinda K. Porter, RN, is a long-time contributor to the HCV Advocate and author of Free from Hepatitis C and Hepatitis C One Step at a Time. Her blog is http://www.lucindaporterrn.com/

More people in the U.S. die every year from hepatitis C than die from HIV.

The hepatitis C death rate is increasing annually.

The number of new hepatitis C infections is increasing at alarming rates, particularly among teens and young adults.

Despite the increase in new
hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, there has been a decrease in the
prevalence of HCV in the U.S. because so many are dying.

Hepatitis C infection is preventable and curable. However, various obstacles stand in the way, two of which are:

The majority of those with HCV don’t know they have it; you can’t treat HCV without a diagnosis, and

Across the US, insurance
companies and state Medicaid programs are denying treatment to many
people. So, although HCV is curable and preventable we are miles away
from preventing it and curing everyone.

This month’s article suggests
ways you can make a difference and change the strong hold that HCV has
on our communities. May is Hepatitis Awareness Month and May 19 is
Hepatitis Testing Day, both presenting opportunities for getting
involved. We have the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
to thank for initiating these events, but ultimately the success of
these events depends on you. It is time for all of us to help.

If you think you don’t have the
time for this, take note. The inspiration for this article is because
Carleen McGuffey, a woman who had serious complications from HCV asked,
“How can I, an average lay person with a heart to serve, put my time,
money and effort behind stopping hep C? Where should I focus? How can
we, the little people, make the most impact?” Carleen has six
children, is on treatment and is incredibly active in the HCV
community. If she can find time to make a difference, anyone can.

If everyone did a little
something to raise hep C awareness, think of the effect it would have.
Just like the Grand Canyon was made drop by drop, HCV can be eradicated
person by person. No act is too small; just act.

So, Carleen, how can you serve?
How can you make the most impact? Begin by searching your heart, and
see where you are called. What stirs you up? What gives you joy? What
makes you rage? What makes you want to make a difference? Is there a
particular issue that really gets under your skin or makes you weep? It
differs for each of us. Some of us focus on prevention; for some it is
political advocacy or support groups. The list is endless. A huge part
of my work focuses on helping patients through treatment, and helping
people stay well with hep C. That is my passion, along with getting
people tested.

If you are looking for ways to act, the CDC’s Know More Hepatitis
campaign is a good place to start. It offers an extensive list of ways
to raise awareness. Here are some things everyone can do and that
don’t take a lot of time or money:

Ask every baby boomer you meet to get tested.

Tell your story and put a face on hep C. This is a powerful way to defy stigma.

Join an online or in-person support group. When we care for our wounded, we keep them in the fight for their lives.

A low effort way to send a
message is the signature line of your email, such as: “One in 30
Americans born between 1945 and 1965 is living with hepatitis C. Get
tested, get treated, get cured!” I use a graphic from the CDC’s website.

Sign up for action alerts so
you know what is going on. Make the occasional call, send a fax or
email to your elected officials—local, state or federal. Silence is
apathy. Let them know you care about hepatitis C, and that you expect
them to care too. An office visit or speaking at public hearings has an
even bigger impact. You can sign up for action alerts from NVHR and Caring Ambassadors.

Post messages to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter reminding the world about hepatitis C.

Write a letter to the editor
of your local paper about the need to reach the estimated 75 percent of
people who have hepatitis C but who are not yet diagnosed.

Send money to your favorite
viral hepatitis organization. No amount is too small. If everyone with
HCV donated ten dollars, that would amount to nearly $30 million
dollars.

Ask your local radio station to run a public service announcement (PSA). The CDC provides some scripts.

Send e-cards to friends, family, and colleagues who are baby boomers, encouraging them to get tested for hepatitis C.

Send media alerts to local TV, radio, cable or newspapers to publicize noteworthy events, such as testing days.

Ask your local governing body
to issue a proclamation recognizing May as Hepatitis Awareness Month
and/or May 19 as Hepatitis Testing Day. The CDC provides information on how to do this. After you get the proclamation, send a press release about it to your local paper.

Ask organizations that have community calendars to promote local testing or awareness events. Check the NVHR member list to see what groups are active in your state.

Lastly, my favorite is a game
I call, “Six -degrees of hepatitis C.” It’s based on the concept of
six degrees of separation, which is the theory that a chain of “a
friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in
a maximum of six steps. Instead, when I meet someone for the first
time, I try to work hepatitis C in to the conversation in six sentences
or less. It is surprisingly easy, and fun to do.

If you are tempted to pass on the
opportunity to raise awareness, keep in mind that in 2013,
approximately 53 people died every day from hepatitis C. That is more
than two an hour. With an increasing death rate, what are you waiting
for? We have lives to save.

Lucinda K. Porter, RN, is a long-time contributor to the HCV Advocate and author of Free from Hepatitis C and Hepatitis C One Step at a Time. Her blog is http://www.lucindaporterrn.com/

Springfield, IL … Yesterday, the Illinois House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 214 which designates next month as “Hepatitis C Awareness Month. The initiative, which was led by State Representative Michael McAuliffe (R-Chicago), received unanimous support as it continues to shine light upon a disease which, up until recently, received very little attention.

“Hepatitis C has been affecting people for decades. However, due to a lack of awareness, there is large segment of the population that is considered at-risk of having unknowingly contracted the virus,” explained McAuliffe. “Hepatitis C became known as the ‘Silent Epidemic’ due to a general lack of knowledge of the at-risk groups and treatment options, and in recent years, the medical community has identified veterans of the Vietnam-era and anyone born between the years of 1945 and 1965 to be at increased risk of carrying the virus.”

McAuliffe has been a leader in tackling awareness, treatment and prevention issues for the Hepatitis C virus since 2013 when he pioneered the creation of the Hepatitis C Task Force in Springfield. The task force, which was the first of its kind in Illinois, was inspired by his own personal story of how he saw the effects of the disease on close family members. Since its creation, the bipartisan task force members have successfully recommended thoughtful legislation. The group was recently recognized by the House for their positive work by receiving an extension to continue their work until 2017.

Springfield, IL … Yesterday, the Illinois House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 214 which designates next month as “Hepatitis C Awareness Month. The initiative, which was led by State Representative Michael McAuliffe
(R-Chicago), received unanimous support as it continues to shine light
upon a disease which, up until recently, received very little attention.

“Hepatitis C has been affecting people for decades.
However, due to a lack of awareness, there is large segment of the
population that is considered at-risk of having unknowingly contracted
the virus,” explained McAuliffe. “Hepatitis C became known as the
‘Silent Epidemic’ due to a general lack of knowledge of the at-risk
groups and treatment options, and in recent years, the medical community
has identified veterans of the Vietnam-era and anyone born between the
years of 1945 and 1965 to be at increased risk of carrying the virus.”

McAuliffe
has been a leader in tackling awareness, treatment and prevention
issues for the Hepatitis C virus since 2013 when he pioneered the
creation of the Hepatitis C Task Force in Springfield. The task force,
which was the first of its kind in Illinois, was inspired by his own
personal story of how he saw the effects of the disease on close family
members. Since its creation, the bipartisan task force members have
successfully recommended thoughtful legislation. The group was recently
recognized by the House for their positive work by receiving an
extension to continue their work until 2017.

As we observe both National Women’s Health Week and Hepatitis Awareness Month,
it is the opportune time to raise awareness about hepatitis B and
hepatitis C among women. Chronic viral hepatitis affects 3.5-5.3 million
Americans—including millions of women—and most are unaware of their
infection. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C can lead
to liver disease, liver cancer, and liver failure.

However, there are steps that every woman can take to avoid
these dangerous outcomes. We share this information in a newly
available archive of a webinar, What Every Woman Needs to Know about Hepatitis B and C,
which the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP)
hosted in partnership with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH), one
of the 20 federal departments, agencies and offices partnering to pursue
the goals of the updated Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis.
The webinar was designed to share important health information about
this often overlooked and misunderstood health issue and to help women
better understand viral hepatitis and what they should do to help
themselves and their families stay healthy.

NEW CITY, NY – In recognition of Hepatitis Awareness Month,
Rockland County Executive Ed Day, State Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and
Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert today called on all
local Baby Boomers – the generation born from 1945 through 1965 – to get
a one-time test for the Hepatitis C virus. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Hepatitis C infects about one in
every 30 Baby Boomers, with as many as 75% of those unaware of their
status.

“The CDC says three million Americans are living with Hepatitis C and
most don’t know they’re infected – placing them at serious risk for
liver disease, cancer and death,” said County Executive Day. “We must
do more to raise awareness of the life-saving need for testing in our
growing population of Baby Boomers.”

“This month is a great opportunity for the public to learn more about
this disease and who could be at risk. I urge the over 80,000 Rockland
residents who are born between 1945 and 1965 to talk to their doctor
about Hepatitis C and how they can be proactive. Hepatitis C is a
silent disease, and unfortunately, disproportionately affects baby
boomers the most. This simple test can prevent a potential health
epidemic from developing, saving thousands of lives,” said Assemblyman
Zebrowski.

New York State became the first state in the nation to pass a
Hepatitis C testing law aimed at encouraging Baby Boomers to get tested.
Starting on January 1, 2014, primary care doctors are required to offer
“Boomers” a one-time test that will bring awareness to this now
treatable disease.

Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver diseases, including liver
cancer (the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related deaths) and is the
leading cause of liver transplants in the United States. The virus is
typically spread by blood and before widespread screening began in 1992,
Hepatitis C was unknowingly spread through blood transfusions and organ
transplants putting those born between 1945-1965 at the highest risk.

The CDC estimates Hepatitis C testing of people between 49 and 69
years of age could identify more than 800,000 additional people with the
disease. With new and cutting edge treatment available that can cure
up to 90 percent of infections, expanded testing and awareness can save
lives. Early detection will avoid the costly long term treatments
related to liver disease.

“Once infected, nearly eight in 10 people will have Hepatitis C for
life,” said Health Commissioner Ruppert. ”A simple blood test is the
only way to know if you’ve ever been infected. If it’s positive, you’ll
need a follow-up test to learn if you’re still infected. Without it,
you can’t get the care you need. Successful treatment can get rid of
the virus from the body and help prevent further damage. It may save
your life.”

While May is nationally known as Hepatitis Awareness Month, New York
State will specifically recognize it as Hepatitis C Awareness Month,
with May 19th as Hepatitis Testing Day in the United States. Hepatitis
Testing Day is an opportunity to remind health care providers and the
public who should be tested for viral hepatitis.

Residents of Rockland County will come together this weekend to honor
Hepatitis C survivors, remember those lost to the virus and fight back
against the illness during a charity walk in Clarkstown.

The 2.6 mile
Hepatitis C walk will take place on Saturday, May 17th from 9 a.m. to 11
a.m. at Congers Lake Memorial Park in Congers, with free testing
available to the public. For more information on the walk and how to
receive a free Hepatitis C test, visit www.kenzebrowskimemorialfund.org.

Individuals who may be at risk are encouraged to speak with their primary care physician about receiving a screening test.

In Rockland County, free Hepatitis C testing is also administered by
Hudson Valley Community Services in Spring Valley. Visit
hudsonvalleycs.org or call (845) 471-0707 for more information. Testing
is by appointment.

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